National Commission on Neighborhoods

National Commission on Neighborhoods was established by President Jimmy Carter in 1977 to examine the conditions of neighborhoods in the United States and provide recommendations for improvement. The commission was composed of experts from various fields, including urban planning, sociology, and economics, such as Jane Jacobs, Herbert Gans, and William Julius Wilson. The commission's work was influenced by the ideas of Robert Moses, Lewis Mumford, and Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who had previously written about the importance of neighborhoods in urban development. The commission's findings were also informed by the work of Martin Luther King Jr., Lyndon B. Johnson, and Hubert Humphrey, who had all addressed issues related to poverty and urban decay.

● Introduction

The National Commission on Neighborhoods was created in response to growing concerns about the decline of neighborhoods in the United States. The commission's establishment was influenced by the Model Cities Program, a federal initiative launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966 to address urban poverty and blight. The commission's work was also informed by the ideas of urban renewal and community development, which had been promoted by Mayors such as John Lindsay of New York City and Carl Stokes of Cleveland. The commission's members, including Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, and Ron Dellums, brought a range of perspectives and expertise to the table, drawing on the work of think tanks such as the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution.

● History

The National Commission on Neighborhoods was established on March 12, 1977, when President Jimmy Carter signed Executive Order 11973. The commission was tasked with examining the conditions of neighborhoods in the United States and providing recommendations for improvement. The commission's work was influenced by the Civil Rights Movement, the War on Poverty, and the Great Society programs of the 1960s, which had aimed to address issues of poverty and inequality. The commission's members, including Bayard Rustin, A. Philip Randolph, and Whitney Young, drew on the expertise of organizations such as the National Urban League and the NAACP. The commission's work was also informed by the ideas of community organizing and participatory democracy, which had been promoted by activists such as Saul Alinsky and César Chávez.

● Mandate_and_Objectives

The National Commission on Neighborhoods was mandated to examine the conditions of neighborhoods in the United States and provide recommendations for improvement. The commission's objectives included identifying the causes of neighborhood decline, examining the impact of federal policies on neighborhoods, and developing strategies for neighborhood revitalization. The commission's work was influenced by the ideas of urban planning and community development, which had been promoted by planners such as Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown. The commission's members, including Daniel Moynihan, Patrick Moynihan, and Mario Cuomo, drew on the expertise of institutions such as the Federal Reserve System and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The commission's work was also informed by the ideas of federalism and intergovernmental relations, which had been addressed by scholars such as James Q. Wilson and Theodore Lowi.

● Structure_and_Membership

The National Commission on Neighborhoods was composed of 15 members, including experts from various fields such as urban planning, sociology, and economics. The commission's members, including Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, and Ron Dellums, were appointed by President Jimmy Carter and served for a period of two years. The commission's staff included experts from think tanks such as the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, as well as academics from universities such as Harvard University and University of California, Berkeley. The commission's work was also informed by the ideas of public administration and policy analysis, which had been promoted by scholars such as Herbert Simon and Aaron Wildavsky.

● Key_Findings_and_Recommendations

The National Commission on Neighborhoods issued its final report in 1979, which included a range of findings and recommendations. The commission found that neighborhoods in the United States were facing a range of challenges, including poverty, crime, and disinvestment. The commission recommended a range of strategies for neighborhood revitalization, including community development programs, housing rehabilitation initiatives, and job training programs. The commission's recommendations were influenced by the ideas of community organizing and participatory democracy, which had been promoted by activists such as Saul Alinsky and César Chávez. The commission's work was also informed by the ideas of federalism and intergovernmental relations, which had been addressed by scholars such as James Q. Wilson and Theodore Lowi.

● Impact_and_Legacy

The National Commission on Neighborhoods had a significant impact on urban policy in the United States. The commission's recommendations influenced the development of community development programs, such as the Community Development Block Grant program, which was established by Congress in 1974. The commission's work also informed the development of housing rehabilitation initiatives, such as the Urban Homesteading program, which was launched by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. The commission's legacy can be seen in the work of organizations such as the National Neighborhood Coalition and the Urban Institute, which continue to promote neighborhood revitalization and community development initiatives. The commission's work was also recognized by awards such as the National Planning Award, which was presented to the commission by the American Planning Association in 1980. Category:United States government commissions